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There may be a move towards smaller cars, but you would struggle to find a vehicle small enough to park on what is likely to be the shortest double yellow lines in the UK.

The nine-inch long double yellow lines are thought to be the shortest in the UK. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Measuring just over nine inches long, the lines are in Caxton Street, Westminster, central London, between a taxi rank and some parking bays.

A toy car illustrates what could be the smallest double yellow lines restricted parking space in the UK. Credit: John Stillwell/PA Wire

Leith Penny, Westminster City Council's strategic director for city management, said: "This was a mistake by a contractor. We are obviously not happy about it, because double yellow lines should play an important part in traffic management and road safety.

"But on this occasion we can see how absurd this looks and we will make sure it is corrected."

Transportfor London (TfL) is planning to increase the time limit for freeparking on some of London’s busiest roads from 20 minutes to 30 minutes.

The proposals are in line with the recommendations of Mayor Boris Johnson. The aim is to help small businesses by providing more flexibility for people who wish to park and shop, pay a bill or run an errand.

TfL wants to hear the opinions of Londoners about the 'Stop and Shop' scheme, which would affect 600 bays across the city.

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Drivers will be able to park on double yellow lines for 15 minutes under proposals to boost trade in neighbourhood high streets, but face stiffer fines for dangerous parking, it has emerged.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles wants to introduce a "grace period" within months that would allow motorists to pop into local shops without being hit by hefty penalties, according to The Daily Telegraph.

As part of the coalition horse-trading needed to secure support for the move, higher fines could be introduced outside London for motorists who park dangerously.

Parking charges must be "reasonable", local government minister Brandon Lewis said today, after campaigners won a landmark High Court case against increased charges in Barnet.

Mr Lewis said:

This Government has been very clear that parking charges are not, and should not be, a town hall stealth tax on local residents.

We have scrapped the Labour government's guidance which pressured councils to hike up parking charges. Indeed, making sure that car parking charges are reasonable is an important way in which councils can help support their local high streets and local shops.

Paul Watters said: "Some authorities have been saying they cannot fix the potholes or clear ice from the roads unless CPZs are extended and prices increased.

"This is in effect holding residents and drivers to ransom. That is totally unacceptable.

"This case must be a warning to other local authorities that try to profit from ramped up charges, unnecessary extended controlled zones, use CCTV for mass ticketing or argue the case for increased levels of penalty when there is already sufficient deterrent.

"Of course, we need to secure adequate funding for council services, but this is not the way."

Barnet council leader, Richard Cornelius has conceded that an increase in parking charges had been carried out "too abruptly and rather charmlessly", but said there would be an appeal.

Mr Cornelius said:

Both our pricing and spending are very much in line with other London boroughs and I very much believe that our spending of the income from our parking account on items such as road maintenance and transport services is entirely within the scope of the special parking account under the Road Traffic Act.

With that in mind I don't think we have any alternative but to look to appeal this decision.

That said it is fairly clear that the council raised the price of parking permits, after five years of a price freeze, too abruptly and rather charmlessly. I will make sure that doesn't happen again.